Silky sophora
Sophora nuttalliana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30 cm tall. The flowers are white.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is very cold tolerant but thrives best with hot weather. It grows between 1,000-1,700 m above sea level in the southern USA.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The sweet roots are chewed. Caution: The seeds are toxic.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed can be pre-soaked in warm water for 12 hours and should be transplanted when young. It can be grown by cuttings or air-layering.

Its other names

Local names

Sofora

Synonyms

Patrinia sericea (Nutt.) Raf.; Pseudosophora sericea Sweet; Radiusia sericea Heynh.; Sophora carnosa (Pursh) Yakovlev; Sophora sericea Nutt.; Vexibia nuttalliana (B. L. Turner) Yakovlev; Vexibia nuttalliana (B. L. Turner) W. A. Weber; Vexibia sericea (Nutt.) Raf.;